This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my reviews of The Cruel Prince and The Wicked King on my blog -- just click the links!
I seriously cannot believe I waited so long to read this series after having them on my shelf for years, but I am so glad that I got to read them so close to one another rather than waiting years for it to be over. However, that means it was over so much quicker than I wanted it to be.
Jude is such a great character -- we too often see a female main character that does not fight for herself or is constantly trampled by the men that surround her in the story. Here, Jude is the one that is doing the trampling, and defending herself every chance she gets. She is clever and headstrong, and though she is young, she is able to command so many and control her fate, no matter the cost.
Cardan continues to impress me and I love the complexity of his character, and the development he went through as the series progressed. In The Cruel Prince he was truly one of the most unhinged male main characters I had come across, and his characterization was always being tested. He has been through so much and had to look within himself, with the help of Jude, to see what he was capable of and who he could be as a person.
Not even 100 pages into this book, I was once again giggling and kicking my feet in the air. I absolutely adore Cardan and Jude's hate-you-so-much-I-need-you relationship, and this book does not disappoint. We see this tension from both sides, and a subtle yearning that is just enough to show truth in their connection. Yes, there is not a ton of romance in this book, in the entire series in fact, but that is what makes it so special and raw to see when it does happen.
Before I read this series, I used to think that no sisters in a fantasy novel could be as annoying as Feyre's in A Court of Thorns and Roses, and yet here Taryn is, one of the most insufferable characters I have come across. Yes, she is a teenager, but so are Vivi and Jude, and they do not act like fools and take things for granted as Taryn does. She has betrayed her sister more times than I can count, and expects forgiveness every single time, as if she has done nothing wrong. Taryn asks so much from Jude, and unfortunately, Jude does give in sometimes, much to my detest.
Taryn does get some resemblance of what we can consider redemption, but I still do not forgive her for what she did to Jude in the first two books, and I do not think I ever will. She was foolish on so many occasions, and you cannot blame it on her age, since she and Jude are the same age. Lots of character development was being passed around to some characters that were acting horribly throughout the series, including Nicasia -- I never thought I would see the day that I was glad she was anywhere else but the Undersea.
Lots of characters got what the deserved in the end, and watching Cardan be so proud of Jude when she handles so many of them made my heart so happy. You can tell that they have a long way to go, but to see the encouragement from both sides is promising in hopes that they continue to grow together.
I loved the plot devices used in this book and the riddles that weaved their way into battles and curses as Jude and Cardan began their rule so early on. I found myself basically yelling at the pages to Jude for her to understand the answers, much like I found myself as I read A Court of Thorns and Roses. She may take some time to understand what lies beneath of this tricks, but she will always find the answer and stay true to what she needs to due.
I genuinely had such a fun time reading this series, and really enjoyed the playfulness and political agenda that was the backbone of the story. Romance was on the back-burner and I was happy to see it not completely overshadow the plot and character development. These are quick reads that leave the reader wanting more but ultimately satisfied with how the story played out in the end. I definitely recommend this series to those looking to get into fantasy on a lower-stakes level.
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